Intel Transforming Learning Course

DIGITAL LEARNING FUNDAMENTALS

Digital Communication and

Collaboration Tools Chart
Digital communication and collaboration tools each have their own unique features
and communication purposes. When choosing a tool, consider the opportunities
that each type of digital communication can bring to the educational setting, and
how it supports the curriculum most effectively.

Written Communication
Digital Tool

Description

Potential Use

Tool Example

Online
Discussion
Board

A platform for
online, text-based
discussions.

Students can post and

reply to messages without
the constraints of time
or location. Teacher
moderation encourages
reflection and deeper
thinking.

Collaborize
Classroom

A personal Web
site on which the
author records
opinions and
adds new material
regularly.

Students can post

reflections, questions,
or evidence of their
learning. Peers can read
and comment on other
students blogs.

Edublogs

A page that is
viewable from any
computing device
with an Internet
connection.

Students can communicate

about what they are
learning in the classroom
by posting their writing
or other work they have
created.

Weebly

An electronic
book that is
shared online.
An e-book
may contain
multimedia
components, such
as photos, video,
and audio.

Students can use an e-book

to bring their stories to life
with audio and video. They
can also create an e-book
to demonstrate their
learning through text and
photos.

SimpleBooklet

Blog

Class
Web Site

E-book

www.intel.com/teachers
Copyright 2014 Intel Corporation.

TodaysMeet
Scribblar

Weebly
Kidblog

TeacherWeb
Shutterfly

Intel Transforming Learning Course

DIGITAL LEARNING FUNDAMENTALS

Oral Communication
Digital Tool

Description

Potential Use

Tool Example

Podcast/
Videocast

A recorded video or sound

file that is compressed and
delivered over the Internet.

Students can demonstrate

learning and communicate
through recorded audio and
video files that can be shared
with anyone online.

YouTube EDU

Video
Conferencing

Synchronous conferencing
that uses software to capture
and stream live video and
audio over the Internet.

Students can meet virtually with

anyone, anywhere. They can
use video conferencing to build
global awareness and crosscultural communication skills.

Google
Hangout

A smartphone is a cellular
phone that is able to perform
many of the functions of a
computer, having an operating
system that is capable of
running applications. Some
applications can run offline,
while others require an
Internet connection.

Students can use their phones

to take pictures that tell a story.
They can record audio narration
to share their stories with other
students in the class.

Shadow Puppet

Cellular Phone
Smartphone
(Mobile Phone)

Audacity

Skype in the
Classroom

A cellular phone may have

built-in features that do not
require Internet connectivity,
such as photo and video
recording.

Parent Communication and Collaboration

Digital Tool

Description

Potential Use

Tool Example

Class Web Site

A page that is viewable from

any computing device with an
Internet connection.

A teacher can demonstrate what

students are doing in class and
post evidence of learning.

Weebly

A Web site that stores and

displays image files uploaded
by the user.

Teachers can post photos of

classroom activities to inform
parents about what their child is
learning.

Shutterfly

A personal Web site on which

the author records opinions
and adds new material
regularly.

Teachers can post regular

updates for parents about
what their child is learning and
include links to Web sites for
additional skills practice at
home.

Edublogs

Online
Calendar

A calendar that is maintained

and shared online.

Teachers can communicate

important dates and information
through a shared calendar that
parents can view online.

Google
Calendar

Email

Text-based communication
that is sent through an Internet
connection.

Teachers can use email to

communicate with parents and
students outside of class. Email
is also useful for communicating
with experts or mentors.

Gmail

Photo-Sharing
Site

Blog

www.intel.com/teachers
Copyright 2014 Intel Corporation.

TeacherWeb

Flickr
Animoto

Kidblog

Outlook

Intel Transforming Learning Course

DIGITAL LEARNING FUNDAMENTALS

Student Collaboration
Digital Tool

Description

Potential Use

Tool Example

Social Network

A Web site where user

profiles are linked and
shared.

Students can use a social

network to post photos, videos,
and communicate through text.
They can use a social network
for collaboration outside of the
classroom walls.

Edmodo

Microblog

A networking tool that

allows users to send and
receive frequent published
updates, typically of 140
characters or less.

Students can use a microblog to

quickly communicate outside of
class and provide updates on group
projects.

Twitter

Social
Bookmark

A method of networking
in which students save
and share links to Internet
content that they believe
may be of interest to
others.

Students working in a group can use

social bookmarking to collaborate
and share Internet resources.
Teachers can use annotation tools
to highlight Web page information
for students.

Diigo

A tool for creating

shapes and connectors
to illustrate complex
concepts and systems.

Students can review academic

content by diagraming and showing
relationships among concepts. They
can also use a graphic organizer for
planning with flow charts.

Bubbl.us

A Web site, which stores

files, such as documents
and media, so that they
can be accessed from any
connected device.

Cloud storage makes it easy for

students to share documents with
each other and their teachers. It
also enables them to easily work on
tasks on multiple devices.

Google Drive

A wiki is a Web site where

students can add, edit, or
delete its content using a
Web browser.

Students can collaborate on a wiki

to share their learning on any topic.

Wikispaces

A presentation allows
students to share their
learning in a visual format.

Students can create a presentation

on any topic. It can be used for
sharing research, opinions, and even
creative writing.

Google
Presentations

Collaborative
Document

A collaborative writing tool

supports students as they
contribute, share, review,
and revise work together.

Any conventional writing

assignment, such as an essay
or a report, can be written
collaboratively with positive results.

Mixedink

Collaborative
Project Site

A site where teachers

can join an ongoing
collaborative project or
create their own.

Students can collaborate with

students in other schools, cities,
or countries on a project that a
teacher has designed specifically to
take advantage of the geographic
locations of the students.

ePals

Note-taking

A downloadable app or
web app where students
can take notes, draft
blogs, make lists, or keep a
journal.

Students can take notes, write drafts

of documents, and keep lists about
projects or assignments.

Simplenote

Graphic
Organizer

Cloud Storage

Wiki

Multimedia
Presentation

Facebook

Delicious
Pinterest

Coggle
Creately

Microsoft
SkyDrive

Zoho Wiki

Vcasmo

Google Drive

Center for
Interactive
Learning and
Collaboration

www.intel.com/teachers
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